Arch-support.



J. J. KEYS.

ARCH SUPPORT,

APPLICATION FILED -MAYI6.1916.

1,219,331.. Patented Mar.13,1917.

JAMES J. KEYS, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ARCH-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Blar, 13, 1917.

Application filed May 16, 1916. Serial No. 97,901.

' To all whom it may concern This invention relates to arch supportsadapted to be applied to shoes and it consists in the novel featureshereinafter described and claimed.

The arch of the human foot is, or should be, supported by the shank ofthe shoe. and

the shank as usually formed is sufficient where the arch is normal. Butwhen the wearer develops symptoms of a broken arch, the average shoeshank needs the reinforcement of ametallic stiffener or support in orderto successfully resist the extra strain thrown upon it. This straincomes between the heel of the foot which is supported by the heel of theshoe. and the ball of the foot which .is supported by the shoe soleresting on the ground; and, while it is usually distributed throughoutthe length of the shank, it does not always fall with equal effectacross the width of the shank. That is to say, if we assume that a. lineis drawn along the arch of the foot substantially midway between itsouter and inner sides, that half of the arch on the outer side of suchline is substantially flat transversely, whereas the other half on theinner side of such line is curved upward or arched transversely, whileboth halves are curved upward or arched longitudinally as is made clearabove. It follows that when the arch begins to break down under weaknessof parts or increase of the load thrown upon it, an efiicient mechanicalsupport which braces the shank and causes the latter in turn to supportthe arch, must conform with the configuration of the foot bothlongitudinally and transversely and in great detail, whereas suchconformation is not necessary, and indeed the support itself may beomitted if the foot be normal. p In devices of this kind hitherto made,as far as I am aware, either the support was inserted within the shankof the shoe, or if secured to the lower face thereof, it conformed withthe longitudinal curvature quite accurately whereas it conformed withthe transverse configuration with less accuracy. An object of thepresent invention is to give such shape to the metallic support that itwill sustain the shoe shank throughout both its width and length, andcause such shank to sup )ort the arch in a natural manner and thereforeprevent its falling or restore it if it has fallen.

An object of the' invention is to provide a support of the characterindicated which wvheu applied will efficiently and effectually supportthe arch of the human foot in a manner to prevent the falling orflattening of the arch and troubles incident thereto.-

'ith this object in view the support comprises a plate adapted to beapplied to the shank of the shoe immediately in advance of the forwardwall of the heel. The said plate is provided with a mediallongitudinally located rib and the portion of the. plate at one side ofthe rib is curved longitudinally to correspond with the longitudinalcurvature of the arch of the foot. The portion of the plate at theopposite side of the said medial rib is curved longitudinally andtransversely. The longitudinal curve of the last mentioned portioncorresponds approximately with the longitudinal curvature of the footwhile the transverse curvature of the said portion correspondsapproximately with the transverse curvature of the arch of the foot.Consequently it will be seen that when the support is applied thelongitudinalv and transverse arches of the foot are supported andfalling or flattening of the arch of the foot is prevented.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a. fragmentary view of a shoeshowing the arch support applied.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a shoe adapted to be worn upon the leftfoot showing the support applied.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a shoe adapted to be worn upon the rightfoot.

Fig. 4c isa transverse sectional view of the shoe and the supportcut onthe line llof Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the arch support.

The arch support, comprises a metallic plate 1 adapted to be securedbyscrews 2 which is rather deepjor pronounced,"while its ends fade outshort of'the ends-of the plate. This rib is preferably formed in theplate by pressing or stamping; and it separates and definestwo leaves.That num-. bered 4 which is located at the outer side.v

the arch of the foot, while the transverse curvature of this 'leafcorresponds approX1- mately with the transverse curvature along theinner sideof the arch of the foot.

Thus it will be seen that when the plate '1is applied to the shank of ashoethe outer longer'than the outer -edge,=that is tosay, the

leaf 4 extends approximately parallel with the longitudinal arch of thefoot while the inner leaf 5 extends under the transverse v rarch of thefoot and supports this edge of theshank of the shoe upagainst the trans-."verse arch of the foot as best indicated in Fig.1 l of the drawingq v"The inner edge of, he :platehisfslightly edge the plate 1 which islocated under thetransverse .arch of the foot when the shoe-"is appliedis slightly longer than that edge of the plate which is beneath thelongi tudinal arch of the foot.

From the above description taken in conunct1on with the accompanyingdrawing it will be seen that an arch support of simple and durablestructureis provided and that the same willefliciently and effectuallysupport the longitudinal and transverse arches of thefootwhen thesupport is applied to a shank of the shoe as described.

Having described the invention what is claimed is The herein describedarch support adapt- 4 ed for application to, the lower face of a shoeshank, the same comprising a metal plate arched throughout its length toconform with the longitudinal curvature of said shank, provided betweenits edges with i a depressed longitudinal rib which ispro- .nounced atits midlength and runs out at its extremities near the ends of theplate, the rib defining two leaves whereof that at the inner side of thesupport is transversely arched throughout its Width and that at theouter side 'is transversely flat, and means for holding the plate inplace.

' 'In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' JAMES J. KEYS.

